As Week 2 of the NFL season approaches, there are some key insights, injury reports, and betting odds that will influence the outcomes of matchups. In this information-driven post, we’ll focus on NFL Week 2 key insights, injuries, bets and more.
Nonetheless, here’s a breakdown of a few of the most important games, with a focus on key trends and best betting values.
Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens (-9.5)
NFL Week 2 Key Insights:
- Rest Advantage: The Ravens have a full 10 days of rest, providing a significant edge over the Raiders, who are traveling east.
- Raiders’ Offensive Struggles: Las Vegas has the lowest implied total of the week at 16.5 points. Their offensive performance is concerning, with the 6th worst offensive DVOA from 2023.
- Ravens’ Defense: Baltimore’s defense was ranked #1 in DVOA last season, setting them up well against a struggling Raiders offense.
- Run Game: The Raiders had PFF’s 5th worst run defense last season, meaning we could see a big game from Baltimore’s rushing attack, including a likely heavy dose of Derrick Henry.
NFL Week 2 Key Injury:
- Kyle Van Noy (Questionable)
NFL Week 2 Best Bet:
- Ravens -8 at Circa: You can grab value with Ravens -8 at Circa (-110) or -8.5 at Caesars. With 85% of the bets backing the Ravens, this line might keep moving.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions (-7)
NFL Week 2 Key Insights:
- Lions’ Strong Offense: Detroit has the highest implied point total on the slate. The line has already shifted from -5.5 to -7, with potential further movement due to injury news.
- Bucs’ Defensive Woes: Tampa Bay’s secondary, already weak after allowing the second-most passing yards in the NFL last season, is further hampered by injuries.
- Pressure Factor: Detroit generated PFF’s top pass rush grade in Week 1, which could spell trouble for a Bucs team missing defensive line starters.
NFL Week 2 Key Injuries:
- Bucs: Antoine Winfield, Tykee Smith, Calijah Kancey, and Josh Hayes are out, weakening the defense further.
- Lions: Lenei Sewell (ankle) is a DNP, which would be a massive loss for the Lions.
NFL Week 2 Best Bet:
- Lions -6 at ESPNBet: While most books have Detroit at -7.5, you can still find -6 on ESPNBet at -135.
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings (+6)
NFL Week 2 Key Insights:
- Short Rest for 49ers: San Francisco is coming off a short week and will have to travel. While Christian McCaffrey is questionable, his status hasn’t moved the line significantly.
- EPA Data: Week 1 Expected Points Added (EPA) data slightly favors the Vikings, making the +6 line tempting.
- Strong Performances: Both the 49ers and Vikings were top-3 in PFF’s overall team grades after Week 1, highlighting this as a potentially close matchup.
NFL Week 2 Key Injuries:
- Vikings WR Jordan Addison: Likely out due to injury.
- Christian McCaffrey (Questionable)
NFL Week 2 Best Bet:
- Vikings +6.5 on ESPNBet: With most other books offering +5, there’s good value in grabbing the +6.5 line on ESPNBet.
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys (-6)
NFL Week 2 Key Insights:
- Line Movement: Opened at -7 but now sits at 6.5.
- Saints Offensive Revolution: New OC Klint Kubiak has the Saints looking sharp, incorporating pre-snap motion on 85% of plays in Week 1.
- Cowboys Defense: Dallas will likely be without starting TE Jake Ferguson, weakening their offensive attack.
NFL Week 2 Key Injuries:
- Jake Ferguson (Questionable)
- Marshon Lattimore (DNP)
NFL Week 2 Best Bet:
- Cowboys -6 at Caesars: No strong edge either way, but the Cowboys’ odds hold steady at -6.
New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans (+3.5)
NFL Week 2 Key Insights:
- Road Fatigue: The Jets are playing back-to-back road games on a short week, and the line has already shifted from +5 to +3.5.
- Titans Concerns: DeAndre Hopkins saw limited snaps in Week 1, raising concerns about Tennessee’s offensive potential.
NFL Week 2 Key Injuries:
- Jets DE Javon Kinlaw: Limited participant in Thursday practice.
NFL Week 2 Best Bet:
- Jets -3.5 (-110 on Caesars): This game offers limited betting value, but the Jets at -3.5 is the safest play.
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-6)
NFL Week 2 Key Insights:
- Chiefs’ Rest Advantage: Like the Ravens, Kansas City has 10 days of rest heading into Week 2, which could prove crucial.
- EPA Favors Chiefs: Expected Points Added data from Week 1 heavily leans toward the Chiefs.
- Bengals’ Vulnerability: Cincinnati allowed the second-most receiving yards to tight ends in 2023, which could open up opportunities for the Chiefs’ passing game.
NFL Week 2 Key Injuries:
- Tee Higgins (Questionable)
- Ja’Marr Chase (Questionable)
NFL Week 2 Best Bet:
- Chiefs -5 on Fliff: Best odds for Kansas City at -5, though other books have it at -5.5 or -6.
For more NFL Week 2 expert picks, check out our latest YouTube video on what’s the best plays!
